Every year, national signing day usually means the breaking up of high school teams with players leaving to continue their football careers at colleges across the country.

That is not the case for several Oxford and Lafayette high football players who will remain teammates for the next two to four years, signing with junior colleges and four-year universities on Wednesday.

Former Oxford quarterback Jack Abraham will be playing football in Louisiana, though his original destination was different than the school he ended up signing with. Abraham had been a long-time commit to Tulane, but a coaching change, which led to an offensive style change, caused Abraham to decommit from the Green Wave and re-open his recruitment. It did not last long as Abraham decided on Louisiana Tech.

He will not have to get to know one Bulldog teammate as Oxford tight end Zach Cousar also signed with Louisiana Tech. Cousar committed verbally in December but was not shy in trying to lure his quarterback  with him to Ruston, Louisiana.

“They liked him for the longest time,” Cousar said of Louisiana Tech’s interest in Abraham. “They had a quarterback that was committed, but once he was gone, they started talking (to Abraham) a lot more and that’s when I started getting excited, thinking I was going to get the chance to play with my best friend again.”

During their senior season, Abraham and Cousar connected for five touchdowns and 529 passing yards.

Abraham, an early enrollee, will report to Louisiana Tech next month while Cousar will join him in the summer after he graduates in May. The two plan to room together.

Price, Jones lead ‘Dores’ duos
The teammate vibe was not exclusive to Oxford as across Highway 6 there were three pairs of Commodores who decided playing with a familiar face was the right move.

Star running back Tyrell Price and Quin Jones were unsure of where they wanted to go as of Tuesday night, but come Wednesday morning they had made their mind up and were both heading to East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.

Each had offers from nearly every junior college in the state as well as some FCS schools, but the pair felt East Mississippi was the right fit and a chance to continue to audition for a four-year school.

“Knowing that I got a good chance to show out over there,” Price said of choosing East Mississippi. “I just decided to go there because I like the environment. It’s just books and ball down there, just go down there and do your thing. Take care of business.”

Jones said he felt Price was going to sign with Northwest Community College and the two would be opponents instead of teammates. He’s happy it was a reverse outcome.

“I thought we were going to end up playing against each other,” Jones said. “It’s just going to be a blessing to have Tyrell down there with me. One more year with him.”

Lafayette’s Zeke Liggins and Rashaun Rockette each signed with Northeast Mississippi Community College. Rockette will play offense after having a solid season as a wide receiver threat for the Commodores before a hamstring injury midseason slowed him down.

“It’s a good fit. They have good players, good coaching staff,” Rockette said of Northeast CC. “Having someone from the same team there with you can keep each other up. You know you have  somebody that you already fit with.”

Keontre Toles and Juwan Kinds also decided to continue to play together post-Lafayette, inking with Coahoma Community College.